“Sort of.”

“Heels?”

“I have wedges on.”

“Okay, so you’re looking smokin’ hot. This is good…very good. Here’s what I want you to do. Is it warm in the bar?”

“Umm…it’s comfortable, I guess.”

“Alright. Well, you’re warm. Go back to the conversation, and while Dr. Dickalicious is talking to—what’s this woman’s name?”

“Daisy.”

He scoffed. “Dumb name. Anyway, go back to this conversation, and while he’s talking to Violet, lift the back of your hair and sort of fan it up and down like you’re warm. Then order a glass of ice water from the bar. When the bartender brings you the water, accidentally spill it on your shirt.”

“What? No. Why the heck would I do that?”

“Just trust me and do it.”

“Half of my closet is on my bed because I struggled to find exactly the right outfit to wear tonight, and you want me to ruin it?”

“You won’t be ruining it. But let me ask you something else—how big is your purse?”

I looked down at my hand holding it. “I don’t know, about twelve inches long by ten inches tall, maybe. Why?”

“Okay, perfect. So before you go get your water, make a quick trip to the ladies’ room and slip off your bra. You are wearing one, right?”

“Have you been drinking, Declan?”

“No. But I might hit that bottle of wine you have open in the refrigerator when we hang up if you don’t listen to me.”

“Declan, I am not taking off my bra and intentionally spilling a glass of water on myself.”

“Take a chill pill, Mollz. It’s no big deal. You want this guy to notice you in a new way—that will definitely get him to take notice. Trust me, he’ll forget all about Rose.”

“Daisy.”

“Whatever. Now, are you going to take the horse by the reins or what? This is the way to do it.”

“I thought the way to do it was to play hard to get.”

“I’m calling an audible.”

“A what?”

“It’s a football term. One that Little Miss Marigold who’s going to the game with your doc probably knows. But that’s unimportant now. Just trust me on this.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so, Declan. That’s not the way I want to be noticed.”

“Alright. But I’m telling you…it would work.”

“Goodbye, Declan.”

“Later, Mollz.”

CHAPTER 4

* * *

Molly

As the evening wore on, Will and Daisy continued to reminisce about Northwestern, and I wanted to vomit.

“Did you ever get to paint the rock?” she asked.

“Yeah, actually, my fraternity brothers and I did one night. We painted it pink for breast cancer awareness because of my buddy’s mother. We stayed up all night guarding it.”

“That’s so sweet,” she gushed.

I cleared my throat. “What’s the rock?”

Will smiled. “It’s a Northwestern tradition. It dates back to the forties or fifties, I believe. There’s this giant rock in the center of campus. Students paint it to advertise causes or post info on events. Then they have to guard it for as long as they can to keep someone else from painting over it.”

“Ah. Very cool.” I slurped the last of my drink.

Daisy continued to twirl her hair and flirt with Will.

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I got up. “Excuse me,” I said before walking to the bathroom. Once inside, I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling defeated.

It felt like I was close to losing my only chance. There was a very short window for nabbing a guy like Will Daniels. He was a magnet for all single women around him. But I’d be damned if I was going to lose him to the newbie physician’s assistant. I’d put in my time—time spent flirting and obsessing over this man. Maybe I would lose, but it wasn’t going to be to someone who’d been here a matter of minutes and hadn’t earned her stripes.

I thought about Declan’s suggestion. The small amount of alcohol I’d consumed was already getting to me, and I concluded that desperate times called for desperate measures. Reaching under my blouse, I unsnapped my bra and pulled it out. Then I stuffed it into my purse. The cold air in the bathroom immediately made my nipples perk up. It was too soon to flaunt them, so I turned on the hand dryer, applying heat to my chest.

This would be a miracle if it worked. Daisy had Will so enraptured in nostalgia, I wasn’t sure anything could snap him out of it. I positioned my hair over my breasts so that my braless state wasn’t so obvious yet.

When I ventured back out to the bar, more people from work had shown up. Will was now mingling with some of our other co-workers, with Daisy still glued to his side as she laughed at everything he said.

Burning with jealousy, I asked, “Is it just me or is it hot in here?”

It seemed my theatrical presentation had begun. I raised my hand to call the bartender and ordered a water. After sipping, I set it in front of me and waited for the perfect moment to go in for the kill.